chapter 15

As Carolyn slept, Frank returned to the kitchen for the cart which the servants had left. He lifted the lid and I saw that it was covered with a tray of muffins, pastries and cream cakes. Humming to himself, Frank carried these through to Carolyn's room and left them on the bedside table, along with a glass of the pink fruit juice and a bottle of water.

"There is no way she can eat any more tonight!" I said in disbelief, but Frank completely ignored my comment.

"Be ready for tomorrow. It's a hungry day," he told me as he left, and all I could do was think about Carolyn's stomach and wonder what a hungry day was.

Frank returned early the next morning and went straight into Carolyn's room carrying a plastic bag. He came out again holding the plate and both glasses, all empty. I noticed that he still had the carrier bag.

"Looks like our chunky monkey had herself a midnight snack," he said and then he left without another word before I could ask what was in the bag.

Not long after, Carolyn came into the living room. I could not help but look at her belly and it still looked swollen to me, but I could not be sure because her skimpy red bikini, while fitting her snugly, was no longer digging into her soft skin. Her stomach bulged out over the bottoms and her breasts were magnificent in the tight fitting top, which lifted and pushed them forward. When she smiled at me, I saw again the stunningly beautiful Carolyn who originally caught my eye at Heathrow.

"I think I may have overdone it last night," she said, "but I seem to have gotten away with it!" She put her thumb into the bikini bottoms and showed me how much space there was still in them. "In fact, I seem to have lost weight, and you thought I was going to get fat!" she scoffed. Carolyn walked into the kitchen expectantly, but her face fell when she saw that there was no food, and with perfect timing, her stomach gurgled with hunger.

"I think we have to fend for
ourselves today," I said as I looked through the kitchen cupboards. Neither of us were very impressed that all I could find were a few rounds of bread and some marmalade, so breakfast was tea and toast.

There was no sign of Frank or any of the other servants, so after we had eaten, I offered to apply Carolyn's sun tan lotion, although I still had no idea what it really was! She agreed reluctantly, and after a shaky start, I managed to get into the rhythm that Frank had shown my gently pushing my fingertips into the layer of fat that covered Carolyn's body.

"Wow!" she said, grinning at me. "I had no idea you could massage like that!"
I just shrugged, pleased with the compliment which seemed genuine, and excited that I was able to feel Carolyn's body. Last night, it felt solid around her stomach, but now that her feast had been digested, her belly felt like a large marshmallow: soft and smooth. I just wanted to bury myself in it!

Carolyn spent all morning laid in the garden, turning over every so often. Every time I went out to talk to her she complained that she was hungry and demanded that I do something about it, but the armed guards would not allow me out of the grounds, so I was unable to contact anybody. I tried to ask the guards to pass a message on for me, but they just gave me a look of disgust. I was not even sure they could speak English! I was actually relieved when Frank finally arrived in the early afternoon.

Carolyn was also excited, but when she saw the meagre food he had brought her, her excitement turned to disappointment. With a flourish, Frank uncovered a small plate containing an egg and tuna salad with a side of pasta in tomato and basil sauce. The portions seemed ridiculously small and that was even before I considered the amount Carolyn had eaten over the last few days. I asked Frank if he had confused Carolyn's dinner with that of a five year old.

"Abigail's orders," he replied with a shrug. As Carolyn toyed with her lettuce leaves, I led Frank to one side.

"Has she over-ruled Prince Khalid's plan to fatten Carolyn then?" I asked, but this was partly wishful thinking. I was really confused as I hoped Carolyn would gain weight and I wanted to see her belly grow bigger, but I also felt that allowing Frank and Khalid to fatten her was wrong. I wanted it to be me that was feeding her! Frank just shrugged again and I realised that, although he got some perverse pleasure from feeding Carolyn, he was just following orders. We watched Carolyn put her empty plate in the sink and sit back at the table expectantly.

"Sorry," Frank shouted through to her. "That's all I have until tea time." He walked through to the kitchen and whispered in her ear, "but I will bring you something very special later if you like?"

"I'm starving now though!" whined Carolyn, and I thought she was about to start crying.

Frank nodded sympathetically. "Let's go out into the garden," he said. "Get you all relaxed on the sun lounger, get you a drink and a cigarette and then you'll forget all about that empty stomach." As he said this he poked Carolyn's belly button and waggled his finger. She batted his hand away and although all he did was laugh, she still followed him outside and did everything he suggested she should. Then he left and once more, I was on the receiving end of Carolyn's hunger induced misery.

The evening meal did not help Carolyn's mood either. Frank did not return with it, probably as he was embarrassed. When a servant presented Carolyn with a small plate containing a grilled chicken breast with tiny portions of steamed carrots, broccoli and courgette, I could almost see his shame. Carolyn ate it all in less time than it took the servant to boil the kettle for coffee. She sat staring at the empty plate as though willing more food to appear until the servant gave her the coffee, removed her plate and then left. I took Carolyn into the garden and we sat watching the sun set over the ocean. The only noises were the sounds of birds in the trees and the rumbling of Carolyn's stomach.

Not long after the sunset, we heard a hiss from round the corner of the house. Frank had managed to sneak into the garden under the cover of darkness and was trying to attract our attention. When we saw him, he raised a finger to his lips, telling us to be quiet and nodded towards the kitchen with his head. Quickly we all went into the house and closed the door. Frank was carrying something covered with a towel which he placed on the table.

"Told you I would bring you something special tonight," he told Carolyn. "I don't agree with the way Abigail is treating you. I know she is a doctor, but I can't understand what she is achieving by starving you." He pulled the towel and revealed a huge bowl of trifle. The bottom layer was orange jelly filled with mandarins and lemon cake. This was topped with sliced banana in custard, and then a layer of banana flavoured blancmange. Finally, thick whipped cream covered the top. The bowl was easily twelve inches across and four inches deep, and Carolyn's eyes widened with excitement when she saw it. I could almost see her mouth watering after the tiny amount she had eaten all day.

"Just dig in," said Frank. "I don't know how long we have." Carolyn did not need telling twice and began quickly shovelling spoonful after spoonful of the trifle into her mouth, groaning with pleasure as she did so.
Frank and I both watched fascinated for a while and then went through to the living room.

"I don't know what is going on with our doctor," Frank whispered. "She has taken a very specific interest in Carolyn, demanding detailed daily reports. What is even worse is that I am not allowed to feed Carolyn without giving Abigail a full menu breakdown first." He shrugged and added, "It's not like I've never fattened anybody before!"

I was very uncomfortable discussing Abigail behind her back and strangely had an overwhelming urge to defend her. Unfortunately before I had chance to say anything, the kitchen door burst open and Abigail entered followed by four of the soldiers.

"What the hell is that?" she shouted, pointing at the trifle. Frank visibly paled and Abigail gave a small hand wave and pointed to him. Immediately two of the guards grabbed Frank and dragged him out into the night.